First day(s) of school!

Charlie has attended the International School of Indiana for the past two years, in their French immersion program.  While we LOVE the school (and it is amazing that this 5 year old is functionally fluent in French), we also live 2 blocks from the Center for Inquiry, the IPS (aka free) magnet program that is also an IB curriculum.  Charlie was waitlisted for kindergarten so we enrolled him at ISI.

Tuesday August 5th, two days after IPS had begun, we received a call that the school had a spot for Charlie.  While we were so excited to be into the school, we were nervous and unsure about the change.  We sat Charlie down and told him he would begin school the next day at CFI.  He was teary, but excited at the chance to ride his bike to school.

After three days at his new school, he reported that he definitely wanted to stay at CFI.  We are excited for this year and the future, and have loved walking to school and being at school with so many neighbors!

All summer we have talked to Sam about how much fun it is going to be when he attends ISI with Charlie.  Poor thing didn't know what hit him when Charlie started at a different school and, two weeks later, Sam started at ISI on his own!  Thus far he has enjoyed it, although the French immersion is wearing him out and he comes home exhausted (we went through the same thing with Charlie).  We debated whether or not to keep Sam at ISI without Charlie, but we have LOVED Charlie's past 2 years at the school and wanted to give the same opportunity to Sam.  So Sam goes M/W/F in the 3 year old class this year.  
 

Poor Julia does not have a picture of her first day at nursery school.  The sign was removed from outside of the building so my plans got scrapped!  She walked right into her class (with mommy teaching next door) and had a great day despite a class full of first-timers (and criers).  No tears from this tough girl!

First Day of School

Charlie's back at the International School of Indiana this year...and excited to start his pre-k year.  He's going full time this year (8-3 every day!).  I managed to capture a few pictures on our way out the door.

 

At the bell ringing ceremony...I didn't get a picture of him ringing the bell because for whatever reason, he decided not to ring it this year!  So he walked straight past the bell (and the school director) and into the school.  He was excited to see so many of his classmates from last year, and disappointed to hear that his friend Eva will not be returning from France.  His teacher, Mr Robby, and assistant, Madame Agnes, both seem great and we're really excited for this year!

Sam started at Children's Day In a few days later.  He was so excited to wear his backpack, and when I dropped him in his classroom ("Teddy Bears" this year-the class I taught last year), he ran off to help his teachers set up the room for the other students.  As of now he only goes once a week (Wednesdays, when I teach) but I'll likely sub a few times a month so he'll get to go a few extra days. 

I failed to get a picture of Julia on her first day of "school".  I teach her class this year, the Lambs, so it's not much different from home except all sorts of fun toys to climb on and put in her mouth!

First day of school!

Monday meant the first day of school for Charlie, Sam and myself!!!  This year, Charlie is starting at the International School, part time in their preschool program (Monday, Wednesday, half day Fridays).  He is in a French immersion class, and his teachers are native French speakers.  We are very excited for the opportunity and looking forward to the school year.  Charlie was thrilled to wear his orange shirt ("Dad's favorite color!") and head off to his new school.  We attempted (hurried) pictures by the front tree like we always did at home, but the lighting was weird and I didn't have time to adjust it.

Waiting outside the school for the bell ringing ceremony

  Each child brings a flower for each of their teachers...Charlie picked out dark pink and was so excited to give it to his teacher, he ran right up when he saw her (he was supposed to give it to her back in the classroom!)

 Each child rings the bell on their way into school...Charlie with the school Headmaster

 Once we got to his classroom, he took off...Scott had to call him back for a hug, and I didn't even get one :)  He had a fantastic first day.

After dropping Charlie, Sam and I headed over to Children's Day In (CDI).  He insisted on wearing his backpack (just like "big bro") which means I couldn't actually put anything in it, for fear he would fall over.  He walked right into his "Ducklings" classroom without so much as a glance back at me (heading straight for the bin with balls in it) and I walked next door to the "Teddy Bears" (I teach the 2/3 year olds).

After school, Sam and I went back to pick up Charlie.  Sam squeezed past the line of parents and into the room...and received a tackle hug from Charlie!!!  They were so excited to see each other, I think they hugged for 5 minutes.  Then I had to drag both of them out of the classroom (they really wanted to stay and play with all the fun toys).  Successful, but exhausting, day for all!